Bottle-capping machine.



f J. F. PRossBR. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE16,1D13.

2 Bamm-SHEET 1.

frm Nn Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

' J. P. PRO'SSER.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FI'LED m1111111, 191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

51A/vento@ Je; @jak j? Prosser Patented De@.16,1913.

OSEPH F. PROSSER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PROSSER ENGINEERING C0, E CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATQON OF OHIO. l

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patentes nee. ie, aars.

Application led `Tune 16, 1913. Serial No. 773,952.

To all 'ze/mm. t may concern.' y

Be it known that '1, Josera-1 F. Paossxm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the count-y of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements inl Bottle-Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle-capping machines of the class for fixing a metallic cap to a bottle, jar, glass, or like receptacle containing food products.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a machine for hermetically sealing such receptacles, so designed that atmospheric pressure will actuate the capping dies, when the operator by means of a foot lever brings the receptacle into proper position with relation to the dies and by the same action closes the vacuum chamber. This is accomplished by employing a valve of special design for controlling the vacuum and atmospheric pressure, which valve is operated from the foot lever simultaneously with the movement. of the recep` taele to be capped and the closing of the vacuum chamber. 4

Another object of thc invention is to construct a machine of the above class, wherein the vaccum and atmospheric pressure are automatically controlled, thereby providing a smooth working machine and thus preventing breaking of the receptacles during capping. even when an unskilled operator is attending the machine.

lith the above and other objects in view as will be understood, the invention will be hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.'

and the novel features of the invention will then be distinctly pointed out in the yappended claims. v, i

ln the drawings, like characters o1 reference indicate similar parts.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the pressure controlling valve and its connections at a right angle to the same parts in- Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the pressure controlling valve, and Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 1, the movable parts being shown in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a hollow cylindrical upright stand having a suitable base 2 and an enlarged upper portion 3 which terminates with a circular flange 1. Supported on said flange and fixed thereto by any suitable means, as in- Which has a thickened central depending portion 7, and projecting therefrom .is a reduced extension 8.

An upright bracket 9, curved in cross section, is fastened to the guide plate at for supporting a cylinder 11, in which is slidably mounted a piston 12. rl`he bottom of the cylinder 11 is raised as indicated at 13, and its under side recessed and threaded at 14.- for connecting thereto a vacuum chamber 15 having a reduced open end 16. Communication between the cylinder 11 and the vacuum chamber` 15 is established by means of a plurality of ports 17. A linger carrying ring 18 is screwed into the bottom of the cylinder 11 as shown at 19, and to this ring are movably connected in the ordinary manner a plurality of suitable fingers 20 having inturned nibs 21 which are beveled on their inner edges as shown at 22. The stem 23 of the piston 12 is slidably mounted in the bottom of the cylinder and in the finger Ycarrying ring 1S, and to its protruding end 24 is fixed a suitable die 25 which is adapted to coperate with the inturned nibs 21 of the fingers 20, for exerting a squeezing pressure on a cap to x it to a receptacle. The vacuum chamber 15 is preferably provided with a flange'opening 26 at its front side, lwhich is closed by a glass4 27 to permit observation of the capping action.

The means for alternately creating vaeuum at one end of the piston and admitting atmospheric pressure at its other endto actuate tliehsame will now be de scribed. -The pipi-ev vindicated by 28 and leadingr vfrom afpump or any suitable vacdicated at 5, is a circular guide plate 6,

.end of the vacuum chamber.

uum creating means is connected to a controlling valve 29, from which extends a branch pipe 30l connected to the upper end of the cylinder at 31, and another branch.

communication between the vacuum pump and the lower end of the cylinder by way of the passage 39, before 'it begins to uncover the air inlet-40, and thus admit atmospheric pressure through the passage 41 to the upper end of the cylinder to force the piston downwardly. It will be noted that the plug 35 will close'the passage 39 thereby breaking the vacuum, just before the passage 41 is closed and the atmospheric pressure cut ofi'. This will leave an air cushion below the piston, which will prevent sudden movement thereof at the end of vits stroke. While the plug 35 is still turning in the same direction, it will begin to open the passage 41 to establish communication between the vacuum pump and the upper end of the cylinder, before the passage 39 begins to be uncovered and thus admit atmospheric pressure to the lower end of the cylinder for driving the piston upwardly. Again, it is to be noted that the passage 38 is closed in advance of the air l inlet 40, whereby the vacuum at the upper end of the cylinder will be broken before the atmospheric pressure is cut off to its lower end, thereby leaving an air cushion above the piston.

The mechanism for supporting the receptacle to be capped and closing the vacuum chamber 15 consists of a circular table 42` which is fixed to the upper end of a tube 43 as at 44. Said tube is slidably mounted in the guide plate 6,*in vertical alinement with the stem 23 of the piston 12, and a recess or pocket 45 is provided in said guide plate for receiving the table 42 when in its down posit-ion. The table 42 is hollowed out at 46, and resiliently mounted therein is a platform 47 for carrying the receptacle to' be capped. Said table 42 is adapted to be brought into engagement with the reduced open end 16 of the vacuum chamber 15 for closing the same, and in order to obtain a tight joint, the table is provided with an annular groove for holding a rubber ring 48 which will butt against the Slidably mounted in the lower end of the tube 43 is a rod 49. and interposed between the upper end of the same and the threaded portion 44ofthe table is a spring 50. A member 51 is fixed to the lower end of the rod 49, to

which is pivoted at, 52 a connecting rod 53 whose other end is pivotally connected at 54 to a. foot lever 55. The base 2 of the stand 1 is slotted as shown at 56 for receiving said foot lever, which is pivoted at 57 between spaced` lugs projecting from the base. The outer free end of the foot lever is provided with a pedal 58. j. When the foot lever is actuated by pressure on the pedal 58 it is obvious that the table 42 will be raised into engagement with the lower open end of the vacuum chamber 15. In order that the pressure controlling valve 29 may be operated as already described at the saine' time that the vacuum chamber is closed by the .table 42, a lever 59 is fixed to the stein.

60 of the pressure valve, and to this lever is pivoted at 61 a connecting bar 62. The connecting bar is preferably offset as shown at 63 for clearing the pipe 32, and its lower end passes through an opening 64 in the guide plate 6 and is pivoted at 65 to the free end of a lever bar 66, which is pivotally connected at 67 between a pair of lugs extending laterally from the part 8 of the guide table 6. An elongated opening 68 is provided in the upper portion 3 of the stand 2 for receiving the lever bar 66. Said lever bar is actuated upwardly on its pivot 67 by means of a push rod 69, which is pivoted thereto at 70 and carries an adjustable stop 71 which is so fixed to the rod, that the arm 72 extending from the member 51 will engage said stop to actuate the lever bar and thereby operate the pressure valve 29.

The operation follows: Assuming a receptacle 73 to which the metallic cap 74 is to be fixed has been placed on the table platform 47 and the parts of the machine are as shoivii in Fig. 1. The operator presses on the pedal 58. thereby forcing the rod 49 upwardly, which acting upon the spring 50 causes the table 42 to be lifted into engagement. with the open end of the vacuum chamber 15 and also bring the metallic cap 74 on the receptacle into proper position for the squeezing action of the die 25 thereon as shown in Fig. 4. At the moment the table 42 closes the vacuum chamber, the arm 72 engages' initted to the other end of the piston as herebefore. explained, for forcing the piston downwardly and causing the die 25 to :ict

upon the metallic cap 74. As the valve plug 35 is still being turned iii the same dii-ect ion through the action of foot lever, a vacuum mnemoc to drop and by pulling on the connecting bar p 62 the plug ofthe pressure controlling valve 29 will be returned to its original position..

`It will be understood that slight changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the scope of the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is: ft. l. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, capping means actuated by the piston, means for admitting pressure to the cylinder for reciprocating' the'piston, means for moving a receptacle into position for being capped, and means for controllin the means for admitting pressure to the cy inder from the last mentioned means, substantially as described. I

2. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, capping means actuated by the piston, a valve or controlling a vacuum at one end of the piston and admitting pressure at the other, a table for supporting a receptacle, means for moving thetable to bring the reccptacle into lposition for bein@ capped, and means for operating said va ve from the movement of the table, substantially as Clescribed.

3. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, capping means actuated by the piston, a vacuum chamber inclosing the capping means and having an open end, means for establishing communication between one end of the cylinder and the vacuum chamber, a valve for controlling a vacuum at one end of the piston and admitting pressure at the other, a movable table for supporting a receptacle, means for moving the table to close the open end of the vacuum chamber and to bring the receptacle into position for being capped, and means for operating said valve from the movement of said table, substantially as described.

4. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, capping means actuated by the piston, a vacuum chamber inclosing thc capping means, and having an open end, means for establishing communication between one end of the cylinder and the vacuum chamber, avalve for controlling a vacuum at one mounted tube, a rod slidably mounted in the tube, a spring within the tube for resiliently supporting the same on the rod, means for moving said rod to move the table against the open end of the vacuum chamber and bring the receptacle into position to be cappedg'and means .for operating said valve from the movement of said rod after the closing of the vacuum chamber, substantially as described.

5; In a bottle-ca ping machinejthe combination of a cylindJer, a piston in the cylinder, capping means actuated by the piston, a vacuum chamber inclosing the capping means, and having an open end, means for establishing communication between one end of the cylinder and the vacuum chamber, a valve for controlling a vacuum at one end of the piston and admitting pressure at the other, a table for supporting a receptacle, the table beinO' fixed to a slidably mounted tube, a rod sidably mounted in the tube, a spring within the tube for 'resiliently `supporting the same on the rod,fm`eans for moving said rod to move the table against the open end of the vacuum 'chamber and bring 4the receptacle linto position to be capped, a pivoted lever bar, a connecting bar pivoted to the lever bar for operating said valve, a push rod pivotally connected to said lever bar, a stop on the push rod, and an arm carried by said rod for engaging the stop to cause said lever bar to swing on its pivot and operate said valve after the closing of the vacuum chamber, substantially as described.

6. ln a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a stand, a cylinder arranged above the stand, a piston in the cylinder, capping means below the cylinder and actuated by the piston, a vacuum chamber depending from the bottom of the cylinder and having a lower open end, the bottom of the cylinder being provided with ports leading into the vacuum chamber, a'valve for controlling a vacuum at one end of the piston and admitting atmospheric pressure at ils other end, a movable table for supporting a receptacle and adapted to close the open end of the vacuum chamber, the table being fixed to a tube, the tube being slidably mounted in the stand, a rod slidably mounted in the tube, a spring within the tube for resiliently supporting the same on the rod, means for moving said rod to move the table against the open end of the vacuum chamber and bring the receptacle into position to be capped, and means for operating said valve from the movement of said rod after the closing of the vacuum chamber, substantially .as described.

7. In a bottle-capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, apiston in the cylincier, capping means actuated by the piston, a valve for cutting oil' a vacuum creatlng meansl at' onetend' 'of the piston before pres- Q In testimony whereof I ax my signaturev` sure is admitted at its other end, a table for in presence of two Witnesses. supporting a receptacle means for moving the table to bring the Iaeceptacle into pos- ,JOSEPH F PROSSER tion for being capped, and means for op- Witnesses:

eratng said valve from the movement of GEORGE F. GEssNER, the table, substantially as described. E. BOHER. 

